I’m so excited. I lost another lb – that makes 4 since starting Mon. My goal for this week is the 5 that I put on during holidays. Of course those are binge pounds and usually come off faster than normal. From then on I hope for 2 per week (that may be too ambitious). I’ve been doing the Denise Austin workout for 1 hour each day and sticking to under 1000 calories. And I haven’t been feeling deprived (yet :D ). I’m keeping breakfast at about 200 calories and lunch at 300. For dinner I’m eating a Lien Cuisine and a small salad – usually about 350 calories. Then I allow a treat (couple of small cookies, a Sara Lee’s Cheesecake bite, a few Hershey Kisses, etc.) for dessert. My rule is to never eat after 7:00 pm. That helps to keep me from snacking at night.

I’ve got a great calorie, fat & carb counter book that includes grocery store food (brand names and generic), fast foods and many chain restaurants. Even if your particular diet doesn’t involve keeping counts, you can use it as a reference for when you go out to eat to help you stay on your plan. Here it is: The Doctor’s Pocket Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter by Allan Borushek, Dietician. They also give a website www.CalorieKing.com which says it is updated daily. When I went in, it said it had over 40,000 foods listed. I tested it and it is GREAT!!! The book itself is a small size and easy to carry around.

Chip!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! That is so very good. Hang in there and keep up the great, HARD work!!

Wendy – I wish I didn’t have a sweet tooth. However, chips and salty foods cause me problems too. I have to keep that stuff out of the house. If I’m craving chips, I go to a deli and get the smallest individual bag I can find. If I get a big bag , my willpower goes out the window. I forgot about the sugar-free fudgsicles. Popcyle brand has them too called Fudgesicle, fat free for 45 calories, I believe.

Kathy – I love your doctor’s advice about portion control of your favorite foods. Re: the ice cream cone – I love McDonald’s. It is only 150 calories and such a good treat and easy to find! When you are out shopping and craving a food pit stop, it saves the day for me. I also love english muffins. They are so good, low in calories. I even toast them in the oven with light butter and parmesan cheese to use for bread with my dinners. You can even sprinkle a LITTLE sugar and lots of cinnamon for a treat. I keep them sliced and frozen so I can grab ½ of one whenever I want.

Also, I agree with Kimmi about you posting your menu each day. They sound so good and easy to follow. If you have time, please do whenever you can, but I know you are so busy.

Kimmi – The yogurt and frozen berries sounds really good. What a great idea!!! I think you & I like the same kind of foods – sweets & carbs. We’ll have to search for all the tricks to keep us good.

Here’s to another day of sticking to our plans!!!!!!!

Cyndi